Five Month-Old Female Fetuses Found In Commode, Sanitation Tank In Bengaluru's Hospital

Two female fetuses were found on St John's Medical College Hospital premises recently. While one was stuffed inside a commode in a toilet near the emergency ward, the other was discovered in the hospital's sanitation tank.

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Medical analysis revealed both fetuses were five months' old. Koramangala police have registered two cases under IPC section 318 (concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body) and have sought details of all pregnant women who visited the hospital between October 1 and 5, the days on which the fetuses were found.

Both were dead for 48 hrs: Doctor

"On October 1 and 5, two fetuses were discovered, one in a public toilet outside the emergency ward and the second in our sanitation treatment plant (STP), both accessible to the public...Both the fetuses were female, macerated and had been dead for almost over 48 hours. Both were aged five months. While one had a serious brain defect called anencephaly, the other was normal. Both the cases were immediately reported to police and autopsies were carried out," Dr Sanjiv Lewin, associate medical superintendent of St John 's Medical College Hospital, told TOI.

'No abortions are done at hospital'

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Dr Lewin said the hospital doesn't permit medical termination of pregnancy (MTP). "It's because of our respect for life. No doctor here is allowed to do MTP. If there is a problem in the pregnancy, the case is referred to other hospitals. Besides, no unaccountable loss of pregnancy occurred in the hospital when the incidents were reported. Details of pregnant women who visited the facility during the period have been shared with police," he said.

The hospital gets over 3,000 patients in its OPD every day and has 1,350 inpatients at any given time."For every patient who is admitted, there are at least four relatives present on the campus. Controlling outsider movement is impossible.Both the places where the fetuses were found are accessible to the public. There may be chances of someone having dumped the fetus in the commode. DNA testing has been done as per police directives," said a hospital authority. The foetus found in the sanitation tank might have been first dumped in a toilet, authorities added.

A woman who allegedly kidnapped an infant from the maternity ward of Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Hospital on Tuesday, was remanded in judicial custody on Thursday. Salma, 30, went to the ward and allegedly lifted the sleeping six-day old boy when his mother Ramalingamma was deep in sleep, tucked him under her burkha and hurried out. Ramalingamma's aunt, who was attending to her, had also shut her eyes for a while.

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Luckily, Salma was caught at the exit gate of the hospital. Someone who had seen her sprinting through the corridor grew suspicious and alerted others. Watchmen on duty nabbed Salma and handed her over to the warden.

Just after Salma picked up the infant and walked out, Ra malingamma suddenly awoke and looked towards her son. Finding him missing, she started screaming and was joined by her aunt. Her husband Nagraj, who just then walked into the hospital with coffee, and had seen a hurrying Salma, found his wife screaming agitatedly. He turned back and ran towards the exit, shouting to the public to stop Salma.

By the time he reached the gate, Salma had been detained by the watchman. People began to rush towards her and assault her when police arrived and took her into custody. Salma did not reveal why she had stolen the baby, and only begged the police to forgive and release her. VIMS Hospital authorities checked CCTV footage and handed it over to police, who filed a FIR against Salma and took her away for interrogation.

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Nagraj of Hosa Yaragudi village was relieved to have got back their infant son.

"God blessed us with this child after 14 years of marriage. My wife's prayers were finally answered, and we are lucky to get our child back," he said. His friend Abdulla said it was shocking that someone could lift a child from a hospital ward.

The Home Guard who was on duty said when they stopped Salma and asked her about the child, she began to tremble. "By that time, the infant's parents, other people and staff nurse had rushed to the gate, screaming. We handed over the child to the warden," he said. Circle police inspector of Cowl Bazaar police station Prasad Gokhale said Salma had confessed to lifting the baby for her brother, who has three daughters.Salma has a son and daughter from her first marriage. She had left her husband and remarried.